The head of U.S. special operations has contacted members of the covert Navy SEAL team that killed Osama bin Laden to reconfirm some details of the al Qaeda leader's last moments conveyed in a new book, and military officials have concluded the author's account was not accurate, CNN has learned.

Adm. William McRaven took the extraordinary action more than a year after the May 2011 raid in Pakistan in response to "No Easy Day," authored by former SEAL Matt Bissonnette, who tells about his participation in the operation.

In a dramatic passage, Bissonnette said that bin Laden was on the floor when he and other SEALs entered his room in the safe house in Abbottabad, having been shot by another SEAL when he had peeked his head into the hall as the team approached.

Bin Laden's body lay at the foot of the bed, twitching and convulsing, the book said, adding that the SEALs, including the author, shot him again until he was motionless.

That account differs from what U.S. officials have said publicly since the raid.

McRaven, the head of U.S. Special Operations Command, went back to the team - including the lead SEAL, or "point man" - in recent days to make sure Bissonnette did not have any information they did not know about.

Senior Pentagon officials, who declined to speak for attribution because of the sensitivity of the matter, told CNN they have now concluded Bissonnette was wrong.

Bin Laden, they said, was standing in the room when the SEALs entered and they shot him, believing he posed a direct threat, given there were weapons in the room.

Although bin Laden was unarmed, the SEALs had encountered hostile fire in the house before entering his room and he showed no signs of surrendering.

The officials CNN spoke with said it was possible Bissonnette, who was a few seconds behind the lead SEAL, never saw bin Laden standing.

It is not clear from accounts already made public if the initial shots fired by the lead SEAL - when bin Laden looked out of the room - actually hit him. One Navy official told CNN the belief is those shots missed.

Another passage causing concern in the Pentagon has been the fate of the only U.S. soldier from the war in Afghanistan currently held captive.

The parents of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl were briefed on Thursday by the military about the book's contents because it contains several pages in which the author says he was on a secret mission to rescue their son.

US Army Col. Timothy Marsano, the military liaison to the family, confirmed to CNN that the Bergdahls know about the passages and are declining to comment publicly.

The book has triggered a firestorm of controversy over the author's decision to detail the bin Laden raid. Pentagon officials are also concerned that any discussion of Bergdahl, who was captured in 2009, could put him at risk.
Military officials have privately said for some time that they believe he is being held in Pakistan by members of the Haqqani network, but have not discussed details because he is still a captive.

"We are still searching for Bowe Bergdahl and any public discussion of our ongoing efforts is not helpful," one senior U.S. official said.

This official, who also spoke on the condition of not being identified, and others said the concern is insurgents might learn any detail from the book about hostage rescue techniques.

Several military officials have told CNN there was never sufficient intelligence about Bergdahl's location to mount a full rescue attempt although they conducted many searches inside Afghanistan.

But Bissonnette said there was a tip Bergdahl might be in a compound south of Kabul about a month after Bergdahl was captured and a mission ensued.

After a firefight, Bissonnette says "there was no sign of Bergdahl, but we figured he had to be somewhere nearby. There were too many fighters here, and they were well armed."

soundoff(1,043 Responses)

You hardly NEED Wikkileaks:
# Obama leaked the NAME "SEAL team 6" on TV after the raid – Not a WORD from the Pentagon
# And Obama has given the details of the raid to Hollywood to make a movie about his heroic NOD to the SEALS and military Intel [who did all the work!] – not a WORD from the Pentagon.

"military officials have concluded the author's account was not accurate,"

This is so laughable. The ONLY people that know the truth are the men who stood in that room and killed Osama. And of course the US government will clean up any messy details or place doubt in the publics mind. And of course any seal on that team will be pressured by US officials to lie and say these accounts are not accurate for the benefit of the US gov. image.

You can't rent something out for free...that goes against the very definition of rent, a payment for use of something. So either he rented it out or he gave it up, but he didn't rent it out for free. Being this is America and possibly soon to be Mitt Romney's America, any sort of hand out or put out for free is socialism, so we can't have any of that...

It seems like the average American wants to stick their fingers in their ears and yell about their "feelings" on something. Try to show them facts or make them think and they immediately start throwing tantrums complaining that the presenter of facts or logic is a vile, evil person.

And then people wonder why we have so much corruption in all levels of the government? Of course it will happen when the average American shouts down any attempts at transparency or claims of fraud.

The person is only vile and evil if, in any way, they say anything that might discredit our glorious emperor (you know, like Clint Eastwood had the nerve to do). If it's a repukilican, why then it's perfectly OK..... even encouraged.

Um, I dunno, perhaps because hearing it 4th hand after "double checking" is more believable to the public than the first hand account.
Maybe they lied?(Never did that before)
Maybe, now get this... maybe Obama leaked false info so that he looked good, AND kept the secrets.
Maybe it's to continuously distract the public from the upcoming election?
Who knows the answers to these questions??

You're right. McRaven is a liar, covering up the fact bin Laden was simply shot to death even though unarmed and unresisting, because it's "bad optics" for the Seals. That better for you?

September 7, 2012 at 8:02 pm |

scott

You can bet that this admiral is the laughing stock of the spec ops community for making this announcement in the first place. I talked to the SEALS and asked them what happened? Really?. It is a pathetic attempt to do damage control for Obama.

September 7, 2012 at 8:04 pm |

ColdBeerz

The Pentagon has to refute the author, on this book. Had the Pentagon confirmed the author's story, the Pentagon would be the leak, not the author.

Whether this book is accurate or not, no one should glorify the brutal murder of anyone, even if it was the true Ossama bin Laden. At any rate, he should have been taken alive and brought to Bagran AFB in Afghanistan. I still smell a cover up here!

I would say the good Admiral's report is 5 pounds of bull manure. I come far closer to believing Bissonnette's version of the events than the extremely fishy official version that has always sounded tainted and politicized...and changed several times from the first report. Having served in Vietnam, I know for a fact that officers don't ask you, they order you to lie to support the official version of events. My bet is that the Navy hasn't changed that much since those days. McRaven's report is just bombast to support the administration's official version.

They should discredit him. He did NOT have his book reviewed and approved by the Pentagon. This is not some seaman recruit writing about cleaning toilets on an air craft carrier; or Elslberg revealing a vast government conspiracy.

The jam the military/government have arresting him for the violation is that a criminal trial will expose highly classified information; but doing nothing makes the military honor and command look impotent.

On top of that, if his fellow team members don't agree on the facts, what does that do for the semper fortis integrity?
Or contrary, they do agree and the whoe chain of command is lying. Wingnuts will pick the latter, JCOS conspiracy.

the book was a great read- was a hurriedly written book. but makes for an eye opening non-fictional account of life on the front lines and details the operation that got bin laden. great details in the book, especially, the account of calling out khalid, khalid to get him to pop his head up in the dark, omg, all kids learn that trick when playing war in grade 1, obviously not the terrorists though, LOL
keep up the great work, the sooner we rid the planet of these war mongering people who profess to believe in god, the better we all will be.

If the author of the book is to believed, then those SEALS who allegedly killed OBL who dislike President Obama, must by your logic be co-conspirators, and the military from private to JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF are in on it traitors to the USA.

WINGNUT. How is the weather in Republistan? I hear the season is changing from Rush to Beck.

Right, but yet according to many libtards the previous administration conspired in the attacks of 9/11. So if i'm a wingnut, your a nimrod.

September 7, 2012 at 7:55 pm |

Orwell is not impressed

Ok you are a nimrod wingnut first class, no salute.

In your world view I must be a liberal or libtard or whatever nonsense is in your brain, but I am not as crazy as you.

As for the 9/11 CIA Bush-Cheney conspiracies, I never thought they were true, just more crazy Rush-Beck, Reagan is a communist, ultra-patriot conservative, facts-don't-matter God Chosen, got my gun ready for coming civil war famine, Vincent Foster conspiracy nut. You most likely know them or inbred with them.

September 7, 2012 at 8:23 pm |

the_dude

Golly gee who do I believe here the military industrial complex or a Navy Seal???

Yea....then why didn't he clear it with the Pentagon? Being a Seal doesn't mean you can't or won't lie.

September 7, 2012 at 7:43 pm |

a real thinker

Believe what you want, but at least be concerned that this "SEAL" gave out information that probably has put a captive soldier in more harm. Caring about his book over the safety of a captive soldier does not seem honorable or admirable.

This Seal did not put the Sgt. in danger. He wrote about a rescue attempt in 2009. Anyone who believes that the US Military wouldn't be searching for one of their own is smoking something funny. My 7yr old knows they are looking for this soldier so I am guessing the bad guys know too. The author did not speak of current attempts to locate the man, only a failed attempt that is 3 yrs old. I'm thinking the enemy is doing the happy dance for avoiding our military. No brainer.

September 8, 2012 at 10:48 pm |

works4me

Do you mean the fellow SEALS that were interviewed? Get your head out of your rectal cavity. This book is all about greed... certainly not creed. This guy needs a long blanket party.

Hahaha... I agree with you both.
The Seal likely gave the "true-er" version, and he needs a good beating for telling.
In the military you do what you're told, not what you want, not what feels good.
You don't contradict.

September 7, 2012 at 8:11 pm |

reasonablebe

it doesn't even matter whether what info he asserts is true or partially true or exaggerated (making himself look better or the team worse?) or completely false, he violated a contract which was a strategic trust and security term and contract. He has compromised his country's military personnel and security. His motives do not matter either.

He was in a specific and known position of trust, secrecy and security and by flaunting this, he has, I believe, abetted the enemy (al quaida and others) and committed at least a form of treason.

he must be held accountable and face consequences because a leaky lip sinks the whole ship- some may feel if he can do it and get away with it, why shouldn't I? before you know it there will be not just imposters, but some less ethical or loyal military making up all kinds of stories for a buck, regardless of the truth or the lives they jeopardize.

The government may not be able to stop the general public from doing something like this, but it can stop entrusted military– that's why they have a contract that swears them to secrecy and requires priior submission and ok before making anything public.

I thought the point of being a Navy SEAL was to have honor and integrity, not to sell out for cash. Really? If your work isn't important enough to keep to yourself then what the hell are you doing? What's next, a Reality Show?

Exactly! I'm reading the book now and learning things from it... they won't do ME any good (or bad) because I'm not in the mili tary nor in a mil it ia (yet), though maybe who knows what may happen one day if O is not voted out in november.

Of course... maybe the Seal should have written the book like it was a novel... ala John Carre... well, next time. Maybe he can write about who ACTUALLY killed JFK and why... it's been almost 50 years now, I think ... really have you checked out what public schools teach today about our USA history? I have been told they do not cover the Vietnam War anymore. Seems bizarre to me... those who don't learn from history repeating it, etc.

Are you kidding me? No Vietnam, no pacific conflict, no history on what the Russians did in ww2. Public schools are garbage and i learned more in the year after I left high-school, than i did in all four years combined. It's not just history either. All subjects are glossed over anymore. You're taught advanced mathematics by teachers who couldn't solve a simple equation if their life depended on it. Our schools are in a pitiful state and we should all be ashamed.. class of 08' and not proud...

September 8, 2012 at 8:35 pm |

DN3

Aw, c'mon. As if the SEALs waited until Bin Laden reached for or was holding a gun. Yeah, they staked out this compound for months carefully coordinating this attack so that they could wait for Bin Laden to arm himself. Right. In fact, the aim should have been to shoot him dead in bed so as to minimize US casualties.

Here's the reality (as you are implying)... a soldier is a soldier is a soldier (or seal or etc)... they are putting their LIVES on the line for the USA and the rest of the 'so-called civilized world'. KILL THE BAD GUYS AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE. Then, oh how did it go now? Yes, O the mus lim said 'we gave him a muslim at sea burial' or some bogus bull like that. YEAH. RIGHT.

Someone risks their life to keep me safe? I don't want them playing by any 'united nations' 'war rules' ..... porco that. I want them to do what they have to do to protect ME and more importantly (since I have my own g u ns and been a 'shoo tist' since the age of 8 (bagged my first deer then) (that's right women can be hun ters)..........PROTECT THEIR OWN LIVES FIRST AND FOREMOST. While I think it is 'not nice' to do things like water boa rding and the military folks should follow whatever are the military rules similar to Marquess of Queensberry rules ... just kiddin'... a soldier AT WAR can do whatever s/he needs to do to SURVIVE that war not just physically BUT MENTALLY as well. We ALREADY KNOW what the 3 rd worlder mus lims (and 'failed societies' like so malia) do to OUR military ... as to the unit ed nations..... kick em off our soil and tell their 'military tribunals' to go porco themselves.

Sincerely I do not care if Osama Bin Laden was armed or not armed, because no one of them cared of all the people in the twin towers, in the train in Spain, in the train in the UK, etc. I do not care of the terrorists, zero, and this doesn't mean I do not care of innocent Muslims, just to be clear.
Osama Bin Laden never used a weapon, he was an ideological coward that sent brain washed poor people with vests full of TNT around the world to destabilize an order that he didn't agree with. He was a multimillionaire that used all his fortune to kill innocents, Muslims included. He was an embarrassment even for the Arab Brotherhood.
For who doesn't believe he is not dead: besides the fact that it is not important that you believe it or don't (although the evidence, for years far more influential people than you believed that the Earth was flat), the pictures of Bin Laden dead were seen by the Republicans (between them McCain), and his death was confirmed by Al Qaeda and its Talibans. Thus, just stop it, because you risk to be ridiculous.
About the guy who wrote the book: I do not see difference between him and a pros..tute (I do not know if I can write it) he put at risk the life of another soldier for money. He doesn't know what ethics and morality are. I hoped nobody bought the book, but my wish has not been satisfied, my genie is def. I'm really angry.

Are we going to see another video from OPSEC, the group that made that 22-minute video charging Obama for taking too much credit? Are they going to condemn one of their own, whose actions are 1000x more damaging that what Obama did? Didn't they say in that very video that they were not motivated by politics and that they would speak out if ANYONE jeopardized our national security? Where art thou?

Welcome to the Hotel America. You can can check out anytime you want, but you can never leave.

September 7, 2012 at 8:08 pm |

reddog9500

The focus should be on Pakistan. They knew full well that bin Laden was in their country and exactly where he was, but they hid this information from the US and other coalition forces who were hunting him down. They are protecting terrorists and those who harbor terrorists and should be held accountable.

A couple of things bother me about this Matt Bissonette. First, he didn't use his real name for the book. (What do all the Mark Owens in the world think of that?) Second, he wrote about an American soldier still being held captive. Third, he has criticized the Commander in Chief. I congratulate Bissonnette for his role in getting bin Laden, but he should have maintained the code of silence. Is it a coincidence the book is coming out two months before an election?

there is some truth in what you say. But I still want to know where George was. Is an entire party hiding a former president who they elected twice? It's not about the man, it's about the people and the direction they wish to go. You sir should be more specific and less tedius.

September 7, 2012 at 9:47 pm |

Huckster55

You can send 12 different soldiers into any combat area and each person's account will always vary.

IT's really funny that so many find conspiracies everywhere, But not when a body is dumped in the ocean with no photographic evidence that OBL was really killed. I guess blind juvenile infatuation (with the POTUS in this case) truely blinds

Really? So you think lying about Bin Laden death would be a GOOD idea? And what happens in this scenario when he makes a new video (which he seems very fond of doing)? Your conspiracy theory holds no water.
Get the tinfoil hat back on – you dont want anymore radiation waves from the evil gun-ment getting through.

And the Pat Tillman incident. I believe that after every incident, our government gets into a huddle to dicuss how best to portray the incident to minimize collatoral damage. The truth takes a back seat.

This man had no authority to detail any actions that occurred. It's a blatant breach of non-disclosure agreements and his actions only endanger others and risk compromising methods, tactics, and other operations. Selfish, narcissistic idiot who should think of others and real and potential consequences. Great the mission was successful, shamefulthat this guy breaks trust with the heritage of the military and his promise to not disclose sensitive information. Furthermore, when the government doesn't do anything to idiots like this, it only gives a green light to anybody who follows.

If the government didn't want this book published – it wouldn't have been published. period. the fact that the book was published – especially by a major publishing house – means its propaganda. The quibbling about accuracy and comments about how the pentagon is considering legal action are just disinformation. 9-11 was an inside job and Bin Laden was the scapegoat. I'm skeptical that the Seals even killed Bin Laden, since he supposedly died ten years ago – not that it really matters if it was him or not.

To sell a book.. this so called "soldier" decides that his book is more important than the safety of another soldier being held captive. Not impressed, and not feeling that this man is acting as a real SEAL. I wonder if anyone on his team really misses a loud mouth like this?

no where in my post did I say he wasn't there.. I did imply that he was not acting like a real soldier... and even if his account is accurate.. his book still compromised the saftey of a soldier being held captive. Now, tell me, if you are such a supporter of our men in uniform, how can you excuse putting one at risk?
Yes, I am a thinker...now you try it.

September 7, 2012 at 7:29 pm |

midogs2

Surrrrrrrrrrre, he was in on the kill shot and some brass say's his account is inaccurate? Nice try at the descredit target practice.

I'm no Obama fan, but I do have to commend him for having the courage and strength to do what had to be done to rid our nation of a scourge that had descended upon us and defied all other attempts to break it. Yes, it took courage and strength for our president to authorize the use of some of our nation's most valuable assets to finally do what had to be done to... get the royal wedding out of the headlines.

It was nice wedding. Yes. But the media just kept going on and on and on about it. Day after day after day it was just more royal wedding. Even Bush never faced such a threat to our nation. Obama realized that the only possible solution was to finally raid the compound where we'd been holding Bin Laden for just such a use. And it worked perfectly. Thank God for that.

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's parents and family might have a thing or two to say that is more important than the crap you spew. His mentioning of this man in his book did nothing to help his situation. If he's not already dead he may soon be. How's that going to sit with you. Can you spin that to being Obama's fault somehow and as such it just became ok in your little world.

Something really stinks here. It's possible that the petty officer embellished the story and even aired some political grievances but I'm not buying what the admiral is selling...probably because I spent 8 years enlisted before commissioning.

And that is why you are a nimrod wingnut from Republistan who cannot get the story correct.

September 7, 2012 at 9:09 pm |

Independent Voter from Ohio

Hey GW. Blame OBL on your Buddy Bill Clinton.
Bill had his chances to take our OBL back in 1999 but he chose to sit aroung the White House and take advantage of his 19 year old intern while he succeeds to kill over 3,000 Americans. Its a Fact.

It certainly wouldn't matter to me one way or the other how Bin Laden died. So long as he died. If they shot him when he was down on the floor, fine. Good way to make sure he was dead. He had no mercy for Americans so why should our troops show him any? They should have shot him in the groin and the gut so it would be a really painful death.

I agree with you Luis. The big issues are, was the book cleared by the pentagon as required, and are its contents factual?

But the wingnuts see conspiracies, using the article to promote their crazy arguments. They used to spend their time listening to Rush and Beck, but must have gotten marching orders to invade CNN as a bastion for libtard commies.

He was there. You weren't. So let him sell his book and shut up. The POTUS did more to jeapardize operational security by politicizing this than the author of this book does. If everyone is hell bent on cashing in on it, then I say that the guys that were there deserve to be first in line.

September 7, 2012 at 7:10 pm |

a real thinker

Maybe reading the article again will help you to understand that they contacted others involved with the attack. The very fact that this wanna be a star ex seal would compromise the safety of a current soldier being held captive shows me he cares for no one except himself.

I think we are all calling a win or loss in the 2nd quarter of this game. Sit back, read, listen, and the truth will eventually come out. On a topic this hot it will have no where to hide. This is all part of the change that people keep saying is not happening. It's happening. They just can't see it. It's called democracy. If you don't recognize it it is because you have been blinded by the easy answers and the catchy sayings of the new GOP. Things take time. It is much easier to jump into a hole than to climb out of one. And those of your who can not see the solutions being presented and acted on have not been paying attention. And we are not impressed with you.

I am sorry, but have you ever received any formal education? You sound bitter and uninformed with anger issues that don't allow you to think or react rationally. Your constant attacks on anyone you disagree with shows this.. you should seek help.

I might be an old fool, but I have been paying attention. You, apparently, have not. Things are getting better, albeit slowly. I think you are confusing your parties. The evangelical base is very, very Republican. GM is alive (and profitable) and bin Laden is dead. How is that for a catchy saying? I am not a Democrat, but I am too smart to be with the new GOP.

September 15, 2012 at 6:00 pm |

Marla

The author of that book has no honor.
How can any military man speak in such a disrespectful way about his commander-in-chief?
He's a shill for the GOTP, and that should be made public.
I'm a military wife and mother and I think that this failure of a man should be court-martialed and given a dishonorable discharge.

Typical Republican Calling an Enlisted man'si wfe an IDIOT...That is Romney's and all The upper 5% OF THE ELITISTS view of our Military Personnel Our Military are the very ones who protect their busines concerns and guard our Nation.

September 7, 2012 at 7:20 pm |

buddy in pa

You probably think the only good black soldier is a dead soldier....just as you view our commander in chief...President Obama !!!

Enlisted does not mean that you are a drone to whatever commander-in-chief is in office. Not every POTUS is qualified for the position just because they assume it. Unfortunately, an enlisted man cannot speak out against the current CIC. But when you are retired you can express any opinion you want just like every other american in this country. The man writing this book is retired and he can speak out against a grossly unqualified CIC if he so chooses. He lived under that command, so if he finds the man unqualified anyone who has not served/is not currently serving has no right to judge his opinion.

Personally, I don't care if he was shot standing up, lying down, sitting in a yoga position, or crawling around looking for a contact lense. I just like the fact that his new name is Osama Been Rotting.

I don't have too much of an issue with this guy giving his events of the Bin Laden raid. Anyone with internet or television access already knew pretty much exactly how the operation went down. They even had an entire Discovery Channel show dedicated to it. Bissonnette's account may be slightly different, but it really doesn't tell us anything we didn't already know. And who cares about the exact moment we killed Bin Laden, whether he was poking his head out or not?

The real problem I have with this guy is how he mentions Sgt. Bergdhal. That is unbelievably irresponsible and could potentially cost the man his life. How Bissonnette could have been a Navy SEAL and not understood this is beyond belief.

I really hope this kind of behavior (essentially boasting about what he's done) does not become par for the course for our men in uniform (particularly those in the Special Operations). In my humble opinion, it is unbecoming of your position and reflects poorly on the country as a whole. You're not supposed to be doing these things for the glory they bring; you're supposed to be doing them because no one else can.

Lastly, I'd like to thank Mr. Bissonnette for his service, and I hope he eventually realizes that perhaps he was misguided when he made the decision to dictate this book.

Do you really believe the governments version? Consider that the entire raid was telecast to Obama, he then gave an account of the events. Now they have to go back and ask the seals if the book is correct? Logic dictates that the Obama version is the lie they wanted you to believe.

Not necessarily true. It all depends if you a dem or repub. Obviously you are not a dem! Adm.McRaven has confirmed with other Seals that Bissonnette's version is not correct. That is good enough for me!

It's interesting that you know exactly what the president saw when he was watching the operation go down. There were several SEALs in the operation and not all of them wore cameras and not all could be seen at the same time. Obama could have been watching women and children being rounded up as this was going down. He could have been looking at the most important part of this raid, the part that could not have happened if Obama just sent a missle in to blow the place up. The computers, drives and other information that was collected was one of the biggest intelligence coups of the past century and certainly making it the most important raid in the war on terrorism.

I would have to say that we are not Hitler's Germany. We have dissent in our society, from both the left and right. I think we are getting better at the war on terror now that an idiot doesnt have his hands on the wheel. But I will reserve judgment until we are out of Afghanistan.

September 15, 2012 at 5:55 pm |

taliyo

excellent point. I didnt even think of that. why did they go to verify it with the SEALs if obama was watching it live? VERY INTERESTING

Ask Pat Tillman's family how reliable these official military's reports are... Remember the video of the Whiite House watching the raid unfold, I'm sure the point man and several others had a helmet camera. Why didn't they just look at the video.

The question – at least for us without some weird SEAL fixation or pandering to either view – is which view is the accurate one. Do we accept the author's view – what is to say he is telling the truth? He is not a SEAL anymore, he is just an author looking to cash in. Or the DOD view – they would have their own agenda too.

In the end I dont care, the guy is dead, the SEALS did a good job, stop knocking on them or the President, each has a role to fill and they did.

So there's no way the man killed during the seals raid could have been a body double? Keeping the image of the icon alive would have been a priority if senior aq knew the real man was dead. If he died during a heavy missile strike in a cave in a mountain, they would know that the body would likely never be recovered, so just find a doppleganger and fool both sides. However remote or far fetched, its still a possibility.

September 7, 2012 at 7:32 pm |

Robert Lockwood Mills

Show me one piece of evidence that Osama bin Laden died in that raid. Just one. All we have is someobdy's word, and the government's word has been forfeit for 60 years. That isn't a "conspiracy theory," that's the truth.

Osama bin Laden was on kidney dialysis equipment 10 years ago, in a hospital. The CIA knew his whereabouts. That isn't in question. How many people do you know who survived 10 years after being on kidney dialysis?

Did you consider that the pentagon may be feeding you false information? Did you ask to verify their unnamed Seal Team source? I would guess the answer is,,,no. To be a semi-decent journalist, you must check the facts, an art that seems lost on most of today's "news reporters".

Brud, in Republistan facts have no value. Their fiscal currency is lies, it is all they got in their fantasy world.
As sociopaths they enjoy throwing people and facts under the bus.

Climate change, conspiracy by atheists.
Obama administration, radical Muslim conspiracy.
National debt, liberal conspiracy.
Used to be zog Zionist conspiracies, now they can't wait to back Israel as part of their end of the world satanic conspiracy, but they are the chosen, nothing changed there.

September 7, 2012 at 7:38 pm |

taliyo

politics gets dirtier when the stakes go up. it happens on both sides. I wonder why no one realizes this

Osama bin Laden had been dead for 10 years when this "mission" took place. Somebody was killed in that raid, no doubt...but it wasn't Osama bin Laden. If it had been, the administration would have been willing to let someone see the body. Instead, it was dumped in the ocean somewhere.

I did read the book and he didn't say anything more than they thought they found him and didn't. Its not big shock that the US military was – and still is – looking for him. We don't give up on our own.

Mr. Bissonette: SSSSHHHhhhhhh. You forgot the agreement you signed... As for Bin Laden, I was joyous when I heard the news – and I'm still happy about it. If I found out the team had pulled his tongue out and threw his family jewels in a trophy bottle for the President, I'd be happy with that, too.

Of course they are denying that it is an accurate depiction of what happened.. Didn't we see this coming?? Did we really expect to see a headline that says "contents of seal's book considered factual by ALL in DC"????????

I have a problem if
1) it is non factual being passed off as fact.
2) he did not do what is required by having it reviewed and approved by the Pentagon BEFORE release. This is not a case like Ellsberg and the Pentagon papers, unless he is claiming the Pentagon and SEALS are committing a coverup or criminal operation.

In a fair fight, one on one, there's no doubt. But they know where he lives and if they plot long enough and are determined, I don't think there's anything anybody, even the best of the best, can do. The guy is going to have to be paranoid the rest of his life.

Outside the boxing ring there is nothing fair about a fight It usually involves use of power over another. And he already is paranoid for the rest of his life. The things he knows, that you certainly do not, would turn your hair white.

September 15, 2012 at 5:52 pm |

taliyo

he's a pro killer. they wouldnt come near him. they only kill civilians because there goal is mass effect.

better believe the White House as we all saw the pictures of the worried faces in the situation room as they saw the even come down. Guess the author didn't know we got the truth from the White House like everything else that goes with cool aide.

AS IF the government would tell us if there own account was wrong!!! Obama himself had loose lips when it came to details of the Bin Laden raid. If they were so worried about secrets being exposed, the government themself should've kept quiet–just said he was confirmed killed, period.

Since many of the seals involved have backed the story in the book even before the book was announced and since many of the seals involved have spoken out about Obama endangering their lives and their family lives with his release of National security data and since many of the seals involved have in one form or another told the same story I have to ask. Who would believe the pentagon when they work for Obama the LIAR!

Absolutely dishonorable, possibly treasonous act by Bissonette motivated by greed, at the expense of the Seal team and the U.S.

September 7, 2012 at 7:05 pm |

Doug

Who needs facts when you can just spout your partisan nonsense. To my knowledge, not a single SEAL has spoken out in favor of his account. (If I'm wrong, I'd love to hear examples.) I am aware of one other SEAL involved who wrote an editorial about this, and while not commenting on the accuracy, he said he was "so disappointed it makes me physically ill. Every SEAL I’ve spoken with feels betrayed by his actions."

I'm guessing that you are referring to the video recently released with some SEALs anonymously criticizing the Obama administration for leaks. Much of this has been fact checked, and proven to be verifiably incorrect.

I don't know whether the account in the book is accurate. There are certainly reasons to doubt the Pentagon. However, it is sad that people like you seem to decide what to believe solely based on whether it supports their partisan interests. (Obviously, I don't know you, but clearly you have bought into claims that have long since been disproven.)

hey genius, they dont want to speak in support of it. they want to stay anonymous. some of them are still active

September 7, 2012 at 7:44 pm |

Bob

What is the source with which you can substantiate such a claim that the other members of the team verify what is in the book? Wait, I get it, you have an inside line to an underground secret bunker where the SEALS secretly meet. Right? Mr. Wade, perhaps you are not aware, or prefer to ignore, the fact that the presumed secrets presumably revealed by the white house had already been disclosed by the Pakistani authorities. Try getting your information from more sources than just FOX.

you support obama so you forgive it... but NOTHING should have come out about this mission. obama opened up our secrets and used them for political gain and it enraged a SEAL so much that he broke the SEAL code. come on.... open up your thinking. This guy was quiet and amazingly successful at what he did for 10 YEARS. Why do this now? Answer: maybe it was warranted to expose an abusive president. abuse of multiple powers and trading our security for his political future.

September 7, 2012 at 7:47 pm |

ducdebrabant

No member of the Seals team has done any of that. Only former Seals (and current Republicans) who had nothing to do with the raid have attacked the President, and the fact that you don't realize they don't know what they're talking about is exactly what the GOP want and these Swiftboating ex-Seals want.

Typical. Anytime somebody criticizes your hero you deflect. Don't address the points, just claim the person is a bigot or racist or stupid or jealous.

Obama is perfect 100% all his promises. Guantanimo is closed, we're out of Iraq & Afghanistan, taxes down, economy up, unemployment below 8%, and the best promise of all: Single Payer insurance. Lets keep it up!

September 7, 2012 at 7:17 pm |

Osama's Chauffeur

What's up with Barack? Try unemployment; the debt; the deficit; the price of gas; the # of folks on food stamps, home foreclosures; partisn jabs; misstatements of his record; the number of months above 8% unemployment; the # of days without being transparent.

nice caps man....key to turn off the yelling is on the LEFT hand side of the keyboard about halfway up. by the way...Pakistan reported the raid and leaked stuff well before Pres. Obama said anything. Please when your ranting away TRY to get your facts straight. Opinions are all yours to play with, but facts should be held common.

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CNN's Security Clearance examines national and global security, terrorism and intelligence, as well as the economic, military, political and diplomatic effects of it around the globe, with contributions from CNN's national security team in Washington and CNN journalists around the world.